The Voice of the Shepherd

By Sheri Del Core

Twenty years ago as a new believer in Jesus Christ, (a “babe in Christ” as they say), I was just beginning to discern God’s voice in my life. I can see now that God was there speaking into my life all the time. But so was Satan. It wasn’t until I became a conscious follower of Jesus that I began to tell the difference. Year after year of saturating my mind and heart in God’s Word and seeking Him in prayer has honed my ability to better discern lies from truth and has developed my spiritual muscles to have the capability to obey God more and more all the time.

Looking back a little on our development is valuable, not in order to pat ourselves on the back, after all God has done the work in us—it’s all Him; but rather to see God’s activity in our lives. Seeing how God has brought me a little further on the road to maturity in Him is in itself a faith builder. It’s especially encouraging as God shows me new areas of my life, or thinking, that need to be brought into the light. It can be scary and overwhelming when the Holy Spirit show us something in our character that needs pruning or reshaping, but looking back on how God has developed us thus far and realizing we’re better for it allows us to expose ourselves willingly and trustingly to His loving hands.

Those first years as a Jesus follower felt like boot camp—training to follow the true Commander. I still believed many of the lies of the Enemy and made many wrong turns in response to those lies. The lies of evil still encircle but each day that I walk with Jesus I feel like I’m becoming more and more impervious to their influence and suggestions. It’s taken time, but I can truly say I know the voice of my Shepherd and I follow Him.

Sheri Del Core writes from Aptos, California. sheridc@pacbell.net